I have a 220V electric dryer and it stopped heating...the drum and fan
worked. I went to fix it and in the process of turning the circuit
breaker on and off a few times and taking the front panel off to look
at the heater element and thermostats ...it started heating. Is there
a known failure mode of a 220V circuit breaker failing on one of the
phases and allowing for something like this to happen???...and if so
how do I check a circuit breaker for proper function...are they very
hard or expensive to replace?...maybe I should just replace them.
Most likely the heater element is bad or a connection to the heater
element is bad. It may also be a thermostat or a limit switch.
I hesitate to suggest checking a breaker to someone who asks how to do
it. It sounds like it is something you should leave to a pro.
If you are 100% certain of your ability, then you use a tester (any of
many types) and ground one lead and touch the screw - wire to each half of
the breaker with the other, you should get a light or 120 volts on each
side.
I'd check the lint filter and venting system.
What may have happened is that a clog may have blocked the airflow
enough to make the unit overheat and the safety overtemperture
thermostat opened.
While you were dicking around with the circuit breakers the dryer may
have cooled down and the safety thermostat closed again, restoring the
dryer's ability to heat.
Check the lint filter and venting ASAP.
HTH,
Jeff
--
My name is Jeff Wisnia and I approved this message....
snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com (alibabba) wrote in message
Hi,
A copy:
Q - My electric dryer runs but will not heat, what could stop my dryer
from heating ?
A - Things that could stop a electric dryer from heating:
- house fuse or breaker ( needs 2! )... - heating element ... - burnt
wire ... - thermostats ... thermal fuse ( not all models )... - motor
heat switch ... - timer ... - selector switch ... - burnt power
cord/plug ...
If 1/2 of the breaker quits the dryer cna receive 110 volts instead of
the full 220 volts...motor only needs 110 volts to run and the heating
element needs 220 volts to heat up.
Proper power at the dryer plug/outlet....no 220 volts there may
indiate a bad breaker.
Normally no to both.
If that is the only thing you really touched and now the dryer works,
might just be a good idea.
jeff.
Appliance Repair Aid
http://www.applianceaid.com /
Actually it would not get any power since the circuit would be broken
( a 240 heating element does not use the neutral) But the result is right.
BTW if you do feed a 240 heating element with 120 it will heat, but not very
hot.
If 1/2 of the breaker trips off or is bad, the dryer will still
receive 110-120 volts AC and the motor can still operate...the heat
will not since it needs both powers to work. The OP had no heat rather
than little heat. If you put 110-120 volts AC to a 220-240 volt
element = about 1/4 of the heat output.
jeff
Appliance Repair Aid
http://www.applianceaid.com /
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